WEST COAST TRADE ALERT
The San Francisco Giants acquired outfielder A.J. Pollock, infielder/outfielder Mark Mathias and cash from the Seattle Mariners for a player to be named later.
What does it give the San Francisco Giants
The Giants are in a tight playoff race, so they bolstered their outfield depth by adding Pollock. The veteran has struggled to an uncharacteristic .173 batting average and just five home runs this season, and a hamstring injury has kept him out in recent days. At best, Pollock could bounce back in San Francisco and become a useful platoon bat against left-handed pitching. Meanwhile, utility man Mathias will serve as depth in the minors.
What does it give the Seattle Mariners
The Mariners offloaded a struggling veteran and a minor-leaguer in this trade, so they understandably did not receive much in return (only a player to be named later). Despite owning a winning record, Seattle is selling at the trade deadline and appears to be looking ahead to next season. They might be able to land a semi-decent prospect for the future here–especially after including cash in the deal.
Fantasy impact
Pollock will need to turn his season around in San Francisco for this trade to have any impact. However, he will likely not see enough playing time to generate fantasy interest. Mathias is off the radar until further notice.
Player focus
Seattle Mariners
player to be named later